Question

Explain the reason for the appointment of a special presidential electoral commission in 1877 and state the outcome of its vote. Identify the effect of the informal understanding known as the Compromise of 1877 on Reconstruction.

Answer 1

The special presidential electoral commission was appointed in 1877 to resolve the disputed election of 1876, and Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner. The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.

Step-by-step explanation:

The special presidential electoral commission was appointed in 1877 to resolve the disputed election of 1876. The commission was tasked with determining the winner of the challenged electoral votes from three states: Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. The outcome of the commission's vote was that Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate, was declared the winner of the election.

The informal understanding known as the Compromise of 1877 played a significant role in the outcome of Reconstruction. As part of the compromise, Hayes promised to withdraw the remaining federal troops from the South if southern Democrats did not filibuster the commission's decision. This agreement effectively ended Reconstruction and allowed Southern Democrats to regain control over their states.